Johnson Grabs The Spotlight

MORGANTOWN, W.Va — Andre Johnson has heard the whispers that he hasn't been the same receiver since undergoing minor surgery on his left shoulder before the Temple game earlier this season.

On Saturday, Johnson, a 6-foot-3 junior, shouted out his reply with several loud catches during Miami's nerve-racking 40-23 victory over West Virginia.

Johnson has come to realize that when surrounded by an arsenal of game-breaking receivers and running backs, patience is a virtue, especially when constantly facing double teams.

"I don't worry about what people say," said Johnson, who finished with six catches for 111 yards (his first 100-yard game this season and fifth overall) and two touchdowns.

"I know what I can do. This offense has a lot of weapons and not enough balls for everybody. So when I get a chance to make a play, I just do it."

The Mountaineers chose the lesser of two poisons by concentrating on containing running back Willis McGahee instead of quarterback Ken Dorsey and Johnson, who leads Miami receivers with 436 yards and five touchdowns.

In the end, both contributed to their demise:

On the Hurricanes' opening series, Dorsey threw to Johnson on a simple crossing pattern, which he turned into a 42-yard touchdown.

On third-and-7 from West Virginia's 39, Johnson caught a 10-yarder to keep the drive alive. Four plays later, McGahee plunged in from the 1 for a 17-7 Miami lead.

Leading 24-23 late in the third quarter, Johnson faked his defender, Lewis Daniels, to the turf as he caught it on the 1 before strolling into the end zone to open up a seven-point cushion.

On Miami's first series of the fourth quarter, Dorsey threw to Johnson over the middle at the 1. He stretched out for touchdown No. 3 and the ball came loose. It was ruled down.

Cue McGahee for his third touchdown. Ballgame.

"He's the best receiver in college football," said tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who had four catches for a team-leading 26, one more than Johnson. "He's stronger than all of us. He's faster than all of us. He's a freak."